The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-03-02
Mrs. Druse,s Confession.

RoME, n. Y, Feb. 2S.-The Sentinel has a
special from Herkimer, n. Y, saying at
O'Clock yesterday morning DR.. Powell re-
ceived message from the jail requesting his
presence at once, as Mrs. Druse wished TO see
him on a matter of great importance. He
Immediately repaired to the cell OF the
doomed woman, who greeted him very
warmly, and said: "Mr. Powell, have sent
for you to make a confession. viii you
listen?r
''Yes, certainly" replied the doctor, and
he at once produced pencil and paper.
What / am about to say to you has never
been made pub ic before, and 1 assure you,
on the honor OF woman standing on the
brink Of the grave, that / am speaking the
truth. The world has turned against me,
but know / have one friend left, and that
is you. Now, you must promise that you
will not say a word of this until am gone.
Then you can publish it and let this cruel
world know the truth of the matter. do
not want to take any more of your time
than l can help, so / will begin at once. ]
mpst take you back before Ene murder and
tell of a conversation had with Charles
Gates in reference to the killing of Druse.
1t was about December 1, on a Wednesday
night. Druse was away, as he usually was a
| big part of the time. Gates came il and
asked me if was alone. George and Frank
were out riding down hill. Mary was up.
stairs. Gates then asked me il l did not
Il
nearly dead now and did not
care what happened. He asked
me if l had the pistol he gave me yet. IL
was in the pantry, and l told him so. l
went and got it and showed il to him. He
saw it was not loaded in all the barrels
| IN Gaming the cylinder chambers) and he put
in some cartridges and gave it hack to me.
| he wanted to know if l could fire it, and
| went to the door and snapped it. 1t did not
go of, for the cartridge was no good. / put
| in another and he said, We'll, you know
how to do it, and that is enough He then
said, Now, if anything happens you can de-
! pend on me to help you With that he
went away. He came again on December
] IL, the night before the murder, and told me
to hurry up-to take the first chance got.
| He said / should not burn the head, because
| it would leave traces he would take care OF
that. He said he would get the buckwheat
at the same time and save any cause of sus-
| picion.
1.-THE next morning / saw him coming up
the road, Just as Druse sat down to break
fast. This was Just after he raised the Ak to
strike me, and ran in the buttery. got
down at the table. He swore awfully about
the tea and sugar, and raised the pistol and
shot. hit him in the neck and only stunned
him. Gates then shot through the window,
and he fell to the floor. Gates then shot
again. / only shot once. Gates shot three
L
CUT HIS HEAD OFF AND CHOPPED HIM Up.
1.-THE head was wrappedin paper and carried
out to the woodshed. 1t was put in a lot of
buckwheat. The eody vas all burned up,
and none was given to the pigs. That is not
true about feeding it to the hogs. 1t was
boiled and then burned. Gates came that
night, and / told him what had happened.
He grasped my hand and said did nobly.
He said he would come for the buckwheqt
tomorrow morning, which he did. He took
Druse's head with him. 1t was buried
one mile from Richfeld Springs
where / could find it if l chose.
1t could never be found, for the secret lies
with Gates and alone. Charles PETIT over
heard us talking about it once, but he is
dead now and can't talk. Gates is the only
one who knows anything about it. There
the buckwheat, and it was Elwood. His
rame was Bill. 1t took eight hours to
BURN THE BODY,
And it made an awful smell. / nearly
tainted several times. George and Frank
Gates were there some of the time. They
did not see much. though. sent them down
TO the wood-lot and had them carry shingles.
killed Druse because / could not stand it
any longer. He was brute and had not
slept with him for twelve years. That is all
| can tell. Gates put up Frank to tell what
he did tell to shove it all on to me, but he
will get his reward some time.
Now you must not tell any one this until
/ am gone, and not let it get to any paper
until after II O'Clock tomorrow. / don't
care how many know 1T then. / trust to
you to see it is all right. You can say too
that on my dying day i am more innocent
of the crime than those who put me up to 1T.
l freely forgive them all, who so cruelty
deserted me. There are some names on that
petition sent from Warren which / could
cover with shame but / die in peace with
every one."
After she had finished DR.. Powell, out ci
observance of the holy day, offered a short
prayer and then took his leave. He desired
the above published as soon after the hang
ing as possible, but not before.
W. W. Armstrong has been con frmed by